Running back Jordan Roberts chalked up two touchdowns in the first half to vault the St. Thomas football team to a lead 23-0 against Wisconsin-La Crosse Saturday afternoon at O’Shaughnessy Stadium.

Roberts punched in the Tommies’ first touchdown from 12 yards out on their opening drive of the game. A two-point conversion failed, leaving the St. Thomas lead at 6-0.

St. Thomas rattled off another score in its second drive after quarterback John Gould hurled a 38-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Ryan Bradley. The Tommies led 13-0 with 5:52 left in the first quarter after a successful extra point from kicker Paul Graupner. On the following possession, Graupner booted a 40-yard field goal to put the Tommies up 16-0.

As the Tommies were about to drive it in for their fourth score, Roberts fumbled on the Eagles’ 1-yard line, snapping St. Thomas’ streak of consecutive scoring possessions to start the game.

The Tommie offense gave away the ball again on a trick play attempt late in the half. Running back Jack Kaiser rolled out after a handoff and threw it back across the field to Gould. Gould mishandled the pass and the ball was intercepted by Eagles linebacker Nicholas Peters.

A 3-yard rushing touchdown from Roberts with 3:58 left in the second quarter capped off St. Thomas’ first half scoring.

St. Thomas’ stingy defense held UW-La Crosse scoreless and only allowed the Eagles 54 yards of total offense in the half.

Jesse Krull can be reached at Krul7386@stthomas.edu.